levshnaider's Journal

Giant Green Anemone is sessile that is photosynthetic mostly stationary, remaining where it attached in the early lifetime. Natural pigmentation and symbiotic relationship with zoochlorellae and zooxanthellae are providing Giant Green Anemone with its richly green color. This species was observed in San Mateo county state beach, in Pacifica. In the Rockaway beach, during an ebb current, when the tide recedes and the waters move away from the shore there is a great place to look for marine species. Observation was taken during the day at 13:28 pm, approximately thirty feet away from the rock foundation that bends around the Pedro Point in Pacifica.

This observation was taken around 16:00 pm in Pacifica Rockaway beach. Protoparmeliopsis pinguis is a lichen of a family Lecanoraceae. Lichen is crustose and has 20 species in its family. The content of a taxon was observed and validated in 1929 by a French botanist Maurice Choisy.
This observation was taken on the back of the hill that is facing the ocean and Linda Mar Bay state beach. This species was located on the Franciscan rock in the grass field. There were no trails directly to the stone but the walk is accessible.

This species of Cryptoporus fungus was observed in Marin Headlands, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Cryptoporus means with secret or hidden spores. They appear with a rounded body, nearly ideal sphere shape with fruit bodies that are called caps that form veli-like covering. Visual color range from pale yellow to white and light brown. Physical appearance of bodies is smooth but hard inside. Surface of pores is hidden by cap veil, appearance is white to brown color. This fungus species was first described as "Polyporus volvatus" by American mycologist Charles Horton Peck in 1875.

This species and particularly field of species of Sea fig was observed near the Thornton State Beach, at the boarder of San Francisco and Daily City county. The history behind this species is very interesting, as it was brought to California to stabilize dune environment and soil nearby the railroads in the beginning of 20th century. Today sea figs are considered as invasive species, taking natural habitat of native vegetation and serious control efforts are required to preserve natural habitat. In vulnerable to seismic activity California on the other hand, by binding soil particles sea figs provide a great mechanism to reduce soil erosion and increase soil cohesion. This species is called Chilean Sea Fig, and besides West coast of United States they are also found in Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Spain, Australia, Southern England, New Zealand and Argentina.

I was on the hike with my dogs when in the dense vegetated although dry grass I observed a couple of darkling beetles. They are eating decaying and fresh vegetation. This couple was captured during the process of sexual reproduction, female beetle accepted male beetle allowing aedeagus to be inserted into female genital. The process takes two weeks from fertilization to laying of eggs, ( from one hundred to two hundred eggs that are laid by female beetle).

I was hiking in the Rockaway beach, near the old rock query. This plat species was located on the cliffside of the big hill, surrounded by clay and sand deposits, and grassy vegetation mostly consisting of succulents. Alkali Heliotrope is a species of a flowering plant commonly called salt heliotrope. This species has small white flowers and is blooming as visible, the inside of the white flower is yellow color which turn purple thought the time.

I have been hiking on the trail in Pacifica, near Rockaway beach. The plant looked healthy, prospering in the vastness of north California hills. The coloration of this species varies from light yellow and orange to sharp red color. Monterey Indian Paintbrush is an endemic species to the California coastline and is usually found between the Monterey County and Bay Area.